NPR Short Wave Podcast: Why you shouldn’t be afraid of flying, according to flight expert Mark Drela

There are many statistics out there that prove that flying on a commercial airplane is safe, that plane crashes are, on the whole, pretty unlikely. But still, up to an estimated 40% of Americans feel some fear at the thought of flying.

So amid the travel rush of the holiday season, we ask MIT aeronautical engineer Mark Drela once and for all: How does a plane lift off and stay up in the air?

NPR’s Short Wave podcast covers topics in science, technology, and everyday mysteries in just under 15 minutes. Listen to the full episode featuring Prof. Mark Drela on their website.